Earth
Much had changed on the planet in the last eighteen months. Where once sat airports, now sat massive six story buildings housing hydroponic vertical farming centers. Using vertical farming techniques in cities large and small, a great abundance of edibles were grown. While hunger could have been easily eradicated using matter stream creation technology, it had been decided to grow crops instead. In addition to feeding the world, this system also produced surplus crops for trade with other worlds. Trade they did.
Embracing technology, commercial shipping converted to an interstellar model. Replacing traditional cargo ships of the high seas, an ever-growing fleet of hyperspace capable cargo carrying vessels now existed. Constructed by joint ventures between shipbuilding and aerospace firms, traditional shipyards retooled for the task of building larger and far more complex vessels. Container carriers carrying standard shipping containers, grain carriers, fuel carriers, and a host of others now shuttled products around the galaxy. Generous financial assistance from nations globally eased this transition. In the United States, financing and loan guarantees were assured, on the condition that the vessel be added to the Civil Reserve Fleet, and seconded to the Department of Defense if needed.
Facilities long shuttered suddenly found new leases on life. The Detroit Dry Dock Complex reopened after more than a century of inactivity, returning shipbuilding to the greater Detroit area for the first time since the era of the steamship. In this way, the shipbuilding workforce grew rapidly. The city of Detroit found itself revitalized b the opening of the long closed shipyard. Once thought lost, this city flourished to a greater degree than it had at the height of the auto building industry. Many other cities benefitted in a similar manner.
On the west coast, the Alameda Works shipyard reopened, and began building ships for the first time in nearly a century. In a city known more for financial and computer professionals, shipbuilders poured in. As construction operations hit their stride, it was hoped that expansion into Oakland would stabilize the sometimes-volatile city in the bay.
Replacing the airports cleared for hydroponic facilities construction, an innovative approach was taken. Making use traditional materials greatly strengthened by metallurgy advances found in the Asgard knowledge base, new airports and air cargo facilities were constructed. To these facilities were added antigravity drives, allowing the airports and air cargo terminals to float effortlessly above the ground where traditional airports had once stood. High-speed magnetic levitation transit trains connected to these facilities, making them accessible to public transportation systems. These same trains also whisked away air cargo to points on the ground.
Outside of Earth's powerful protective shield, a docking facility orbited. Outfitted to dock up to ten vessels at a time, ships belonging to other races and worlds could make port calls without entering the atmosphere. Once docked, visitors entered the station, and underwent scanning for contagions and contraband material or weapons. Cargo could also arrive in this manner. Once cleared, visitors were transported via Asgard beaming technology, to one of six secure facilities spread over the continents of Earth. From their, off world visitors could make use of transport beams to further destinations, or the global transportations network.
Traditional seagoing ports were still hard at work around the globe. To service Earth's new fleet of interstellar cargo vessels, new terminals for these were constructed. Using the same method used for airports, shipping terminals built levitated skyward. At any one time, each of these stations sitting serenely above their traditional cousins, could house twenty vessels in dock. Built in modular fashion, these facilities were expandable with relative ease, as further infrastructure need arose.
Making use of matter creation technology and replicator labor, magnetic levitation trains now crisscrossed entire nations. Aboveground maglevs replaced traditional rail. Adding to this improved matrix, a separate version of the maglev train was added. Operating underground, inside sealed tunnels purged of atmosphere, these express trains stopped at four locations across the United States. Due to lack of atmospheric drag inside the underground tunnels, these trains raced at speeds common to military aircraft. Transportation on the ground was stepping into a new golden age.
The education initiative started shortly after disclosure, making use of Galaran memory technology, greatly expanded. Universities and colleges globally used the method of higher education championed by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology to great effect. While highly educated professionals would have been turned out without the initiative, record numbers were now graduating. In a one-year period, more Doctorates were issued than in the ten years previous. Investing in their citizen's futures and by default their own, nations around the globe subsidized tuition. The educational baseline of Earth was growing by orders of magnitude, and would continue to do so far into the future.
On Whiteman Air Force Base, two miles outside of Knob Noster, Missouri, four large craft taxied clear of the large hangers belonging to the 509th Bomb Wing. In the sunlight of a Missouri summer day, the four black craft looked menacing. Forty meters in length, with a wingspan of seventy meters, these craft were wedge shaped flying wings. Similar in appearance to the B-2 Spirit stealth bomber, these craft fulfilled the same mission, and a host of others. Instead of moving towards runways, the four taxied towards a series of circular concrete pads.
Designed for strategic strike, the B-3 Chimera was capable of much more. Electronic warfare capabilities were but one portion of an expanded suite of systems. Mounted in retractable half spheres on each wing, were two high-powered free electron laser systems. Detachable drones carried within the Chimera could be used to bounce the beam from the laser towards targets if not in direct firing position. This was in addition to munitions carried within the two internal bomb bays. These same drones were also well suited to the task of intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance. Many more systems and abilities were contained within the B-3, and in time would be seen by those foolish enough to face it.
Coming to a stop on their assigned concrete pads, the four Chimera's gave off little noise. Moving antigravity drives from standby to active, the B-3's rose into the air without forward motion. Landing gear retracted, and the outer hull sealed. Upward they continued, before transitioning to forward flight. In the distance, sixteen craft of different design altered course, moving to intercept the now airborne Chimera's.
The intercepting craft were similar to the Chimera's only in their graphite coloring. Three hundred and fifty feet in length, they resembled the B-2 if viewing only the nose and cockpit section. Two hundred and thirty eight feet the main wing spanned, with a smaller one behind in a blended and tandem Delanne Wing configuration. Having arrived from Joint Base Charleston, these craft were known in the Air Force as the C-142 Nimbus strategic airlifter.
Breaking off four per B-3, the C-142's fell into stacked formation behind each Chimera. Tucking in closely, each group of five aircraft gained altitude quickly, passing out of sight to those on the ground. In the lead Chimera, the pilot in command keyed his radio.
"Whiteman flight following, this is Mazda nine one." The pilot began.
"Nine one, this is flight, go." Came the reply.
"Mercury flight is now in formation. Mazda flight is now Valkyrie flight. Confirm." The pilot stated.
"Whiteman copied Valkyrie flight. Safe travels." The controller said before cutting the communications link.
Effortlessly, the craft rose higher and higher. Passing into space, the crews aboard each craft took note of commercial shipping traffic coming and going from Earth. Engaging their hyper drives in unison, they slipped through the portal that would carry them to a distant world.
The Pentagon
It had taken a feat of administrative juggling, but it was recently complete. The Pentagon was reborn in similar style to its original form, only in Asuras like Ancient architecture and construction. Now, six stories taller than originally, the headquarters of the United States military was finally suited for the duties of managing a military spread across multiple galaxies. In a fit of nostalgia, many of the accoutrements of historical significance had carried forward into the new iteration.
Packed to the gills with computers before the renovation, the facility now bristled with technology. A facility managing artificial intelligence, internal sensors like those found on city ships, point-to-point transporter booths, and protective force field barricades could now be found. Beneath the acres large parking lot, a Puddle Jumper bay now sat. Beneath the building, the Metro subway system of Washington, D.C. still ran. Only now, a maglev train performed daily duties throughout the nation's capital.
A new administration had brought new souls to fill positions of leadership in these hallowed halls. Retired Major General Hank Landry now sat as Secretary of Defense. General Francis Maynard was replaced in his role of Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff by now four star General Jack O'Neill. Many had objected to General O'Neill's candidacy for the chairmanship. None more than a former IOA head turned Senator from New York by the name of Carl Strom.
Try as he may, Strom failed to rally many around his cause. During confirmation hearings, Senator Strom berated O'Neill for his conduct as leader of SG-1, and later leadership of the SGC. To each accusation, Jack had a rapid-fire comeback, taking aim squaring at the failings of the IOA. That alone showed the General was the man for the job in many eyes. It also helped that O'Neill had saved Earth a time or eight.
Upon confirmation, Secretary Landry and General O'Neill through themselves into their task, with great gusto. Charged with restructuring and reequipping the United States military for roles in the universe by President O'Bannon, the two men worked tirelessly. An array of new systems for each branch of service were approved, and quickly brought online. Though much had been accomplished, reequipping a diverse military takes time. This process would continue for some time to come. At every turn, Strom fought their efforts.
Walking through the door of the Chairman's inner office, the General's aide-de-camp entered. Colonel John Sheppard had a storied career with the Atlantis Expedition, and later as the commanding officer of USS Ares. Detractors from his past finally managed to move in, to settle old scores, the moment his term of command of Ares was at an end. Instead of a posting consummate with his experience, Sheppard found himself slated to relieve the current commander of an off world observation site unworthy of note. Seeing the trap for what it was, O'Neill had stepped in, requesting Sheppard as his aide. When asked why, Jack had explained it was the only way Sheppard would ever get a chance at his first star.
"How goes it this fine DC morning Colonel?" General O'Neill asked.
"It's not on your desk yet, but we received another report from the Asgard. That strange gravitational anomaly popped back up in the Perseus Arm again." Sheppard replied.
"While I understand we should be diverting a ship or two to investigate, I don't see the point." O'Neill replied.
"General, if the Asgard went to the trouble of pointing this out, we might want to have a look." Sheppard argued.
"I understand that Sheppard. We kept Ajax and her group out there looking for the source of these anomalies for two months, and they found nothing." Jack replied with finality.
"Everything else in the universe seems to be quiet. That's rare enough to mention." Sheppard dropped with a smirk.
"The Chief of Naval Operations stopped by earlier. Apparently the amphibious ready group pulled out of Little Creek with no problems." Jack stated.
"You would think that they would come up with a better name than amphibious ready group. They are spaceships after all." Sheppard quipped with a headshake.
"The Navy loves their traditions Colonel. At least they have not raised a stink about their ships lacking a yard arm." Jack answered deadpan.
"Senator Strom's office has called twice requesting a meeting. I told them you are occupied for a week. That should buy you some breathing room General." Sheppard offered graciously.
"Good man! I wonder if he is calling about the merger that no one has picked up on yet?" Jack pondered.
"Merger General?" Sheppard replied in question.
"Alec Colson gave me a call. Now that he is back as Chairman of Colson Aerospace, he has the inside line on gossip in the defense industry. It seems Farrow Marshall Aeronautics is in the process of buying out Lockheed Martin." Jack explained.
"While that is big news, why would Mr. Colson call you directly about that General?" Sheppard asked.
"It was before your time, but Farrow Marshall was a bit of a problem child for the SGC. Two Goa'uld hiding out as heads of a defense contractor can be good for that though." Jack replied.
"That it could be General." Sheppard replied in an understanding tone.
"Anything going on with you?" Jack asked.
"My brother is coming to town next week. He said it is urgent, but then tells me we are not meeting until next week. Strange, I know." Sheppard explained.
"Civilians are like that. Family is important. Take a few days off and enjoy his visit. That is an order Colonel." Jack said in jokingly stern tones.
"Is this like the order to go fishing with you General?" Sheppard smirked.
"Ok, get out of my office. I need to step down to the National Military Command Center. The Pinch Hitter exercise should be kicking off on Langara shortly. I want to be in the NMCC to listen in on its progress." Jack explained.
Langara
Langara once sat in the domain of the Goa'uld Thanos. Human civilization first arrived on the planet three thousand years before, as slave labor for this false god. In the time since then, Langara had suffered one catastrophe after the next. Wars, attempted invasion by Anubis, and later successful occupation by followers of the Ori marked milestones in the Langaran psyche. Finally, a new wind was blowing across this world.
The three superpowers of Langara had years earlier formed a joint ruling council. Mentored by the Tau'ri and Asgard, a new Langaran High Council took shape, unifying the world under one government. Though it had not been a painless transition, it was accomplished without bloodshed. Tempers did soon flare during spirited debate on the establishment of a new currency. Jonas Quinn, leveraging his time on Earth against his position in the new government, found a surprisingly workable solution. Why, he asked, build a new dynamic economy of their own, when one already existed?
Through the Pan Galactic Trade Exchange on Shambhala, Langaran resources, namely naqaudria, had already been exchanged for trade credits in the amount of forty billion dollars. These funds, at the urging of many in the Department of Treasury, were cleared for investment in United States financial instruments and markets. Instead of establishing a new currency, and pegging that currency to the dollar, Langara instead adopted the dollar as their new currency. This move would serve to ease trade difficulties moving forward. Trade of goods from Earth could now be conducted, without the government serving as intermediary in all transactions. Private industry relished the thought of virgin markets abroad.
Years after the Ori occupation, Langara struggled to rebuild indigenous industry. Corporations from Earth charged in eagerly to fill the gap. In time, automobile manufacturers, computer companies, construction companies, and a bevy of other industries arrived. The true beauty of the arrangement lay in the fact that dated designs could be sold as new and innovative products, to the less advanced Langaran's. The adoption of the dollar on this allied world of incredible importance did little to please certain nations on Earth, namely Russia and France. In time, factories making use of modern production techniques, a thorium reactor based power grid, and cityscapes reminiscent of the nineteen eighties Earth replaced ruble and ruin left in the wake of Ori occupation.